Acetylene-gas lamp.



No. 644,804. Patented Mar. s, 190m.

P. F, MccAFFm-:Y & T. A. nuNsHEE.

ACETYLENE GAS LAMP.

(Application led June 1, 1899.) (No Model.)

. c. ma Ncnms PETERS co, Fna-muws.. wAsHmaoN. D

llivrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER 4FRANCIS MOCAFFREY AND TnoMAs A. DUNsnEn, oF sALT LAKE ciTY, UTAH.

ACETYLENE-GAS LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 644,804, dated March 6, 190.

Application filed June 1, 1899. Serial No. 719,001. (No model.)

Our invention relates to improvements in portable acetylene-gas lamps; and the primary object is to provide a simple structure in which the carbid-receptacle, the water-reservoir, and the water-regulating devices are all housed or contained within the lamp-casing in operative relation one to the other and the regulating device is easily accessible for adjustment and control, the several parts being readily separable for removing the spent carbid without soiling the hands.

Afurther object is to provide a means serving as the water admission and regulating device and as the outlet-pipe for the acetylene gas, said means having a' handle for its convenient manipulationl to regulate or cut off the flow of water to the carbid without, however, obstructing the passage of gas to the burner.

lVith these ends in viewour invention consists in the novel combination of devices andv in the construction and arrangement of parts constituting an acetylene-gas lamp, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, we have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an acetylenegas lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation ot' the lamp represented by Fig. 1, the plane of the section being indicated bythe dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal section on a plane above the diaphragm and indicated by the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the adjustable tube,which is peculiarly constructed to serve as the water-valve and as the means for conveying acetylene gas from the generator-chamber to the burner.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

' In carrying our invention into practice We employ a sectional construction vof lamp which includes a base and a two-part pedestal, which are separahly connected together vthreaded coupling-neck 12 on the upper face of the base. The pedestal consists, preferably, of independent sections 13 14 of corresponding form and diameter, and the adjacent ends of these sections are coupled separably together by an intermediate diaphragm 15. The lower section 13 of the pedestal has male threads provided thereon at its opposite ends, as indicated at 16 17, while the upper section 14 is similarly provided with male threads at 1S 19. The diaphragm 15 is .formed in a single piece with a collar 20, which is interiorly threaded at 2l 22 above and below the plane ot the diaphragm proper, respectively. The threaded end 16'of the pedestal-section 13 is screwed into the coupling-neck 12 of the base, while the opposit-e threaded end 17 ot said pedestal-section 13 is screwed into the threaded part 21 of the collar on the diaphragm 15. The upper pedestal-section 14 has its lower threaded end 18 screwed into the upper threaded part 22 of the collar on said diaphragm, and to the upper threaded end 19 of said pedestal-section 14 is screwed the threaded collar 24 on the cap 23. It will thus be seen that the pedestal-sections are separably coupled together through the medium of the diaphragm and that the lower section 13 of said pedestal is detachably fastened to the base. The upper pedestal-section and the IOO the lower pedestal 13, which mayl remain attached to the base 10 in order to gain access to the generator-chamber, which is formed by the lower pedestal-section 13, or, it' desired, the diaphragm may remain fast to the lower pedestalsection 13, while the upper pedestalsection 14 is unscrewed vfrom said diaphragm to permit access to be had to the water-chainber which is formed within said upper pedestal-section 14.

The cap 23 is provided with a central opening 25, which provides for the passage therethrough o't the tube or pipe, and said cap 23 is furthermore provided with a vent-aperture 26, which is disposed at one side of the central opening 25 and is adapted to permit gas to escape from the pedestal or column in order to obviate the accumulation of gas, which may have a tendency to exert dangerous pressure within the pedestal or column of the lamp.

By making the two parts or sections of the pedestal in hollow form and coupling said pedestal members by a diaphragm which is interposed between the adjacent ends of the pedestal members the lamp is constructed with a lower generator-chamber 27 and with an upper water-chamber 2S, said chambers being cut oli' from communication one with the other by the interposed diaphragm.

The diaphragm 15 is provided on its upper side with a iixed boss, preferably of conical form, which is arranged to extend into the lower part of the upper water-chamber 28, and this boss is provided with an internal or female thread, so that the boss is adapted to serve the purpose o't a fixed nut 29, which is held in place by the diaphragm and is disposed in axial alinernent with the central aperture 25 on the cap 23 of the lamp structure.

The upper end ot' thepedestal is perforated in alinement with the peritorations in the diaphragm and the top of the section 14 and is also preferably provided with a boss which is perforated and screw-threaded to register with the screw-threads of the boss 36. ln this manner the tube 30 assists in holding the lower section and the diaphragm together, and it also gives a longer bearing for the screw-threads of the tube, thereby preventing the liability ot' the water getting into the lower section by means of the threads. It also avoids the liability of gas escaping through the joint between the diaphragm and the lower section.

30 designates a vertical tube which extends through the water-chamber 28, the fixed nut 29, and the central opening of the cap 23, and thus this central tube is adapted to have its lower end extend into the generator-chamber 27, while its upper end protrudes a suit-- able distance above the cap 23 to receive a burner, as will presently appear. This central tube is peculiarly constructed to serve the purpose ot' a valve adapted to regulate the How of water from the chamber 28 to the carbid which is contained within the generator-chamber 27, and this tube also serves to support the burner-tip and to convey the gas from the generator-chamber through the water-chamber to said burner-tip. In the preterred embodiment of this part ot' our invention we provide an external or male screwthread on the lower part ot' the vertical tube 30, and said tube forms or is provided with a longitudinal bore or passage 3l. The lower extremity of the tube is beveled or cut away on an inclined plane, as at 32, in order to provide .for the free ingress of gas into the bore or passage of said tube. In one face or side of the tube, at its lower threaded part, We cut or form a longitudinal groove 33, which constitutes a water duct or way when the tube is adjusted to move the valve away from its seat in the water-chamber of the pedestal or column. A valve-collar 34 is provided on the tube 30 at a point intermediate its length, and this valve-collar may be made as an integral part oit' the tube, as shown by Fig. 2, or said valve-collar may be secured fast with the tube. Vte prefer to make the valve-collar cup-shaped in cross-section for its lower side to be open, and in this cup-shaped collar is tightly secured a packing 35, of leather or other com pressible material, which is adapted to be seated tightly upon the valve-seat 36, which is formed by the upper face of the fixed nut 29. The water duct or way 33 extends from the valve-collar 34 to the lower extremity formed by the beveled end 32 oi' the tube 30, and this duct or passage extends through the fixed nut 29, so that on adjustment of the tube 30 to elevate the valve 34 away from its seat 36 the duct will be exposed above the valveseat and the nut 29 for the water to pass from the chamber 2S int-o the duct and thence travel along the threaded part of the tube 30, so as to be discharged into the generator-chamber 27. The nut 29 thus serves as a bearing for the lower threaded end of the tube 30 in orderv to raise or lower the valve 34 by a rotary adjustment of said tube, and the nut also provides a seat for the valve when the tube is rotated to move the valve in a downward direction, whereby the valve is caused to close the water passage or way 33 in the threaded lower part of the tube, so as to cut oft the flow of Water from the chamber 28 to the generator-chamber 27. By rotating the tube 30 in the proper direction in order to screw the threaded part of said tube in the nut, so as to expose more or less of the area of the longitudinal groove 33 in the tube, the volume of water which passes from the chamber 20 to the generator-chamber may be varied so as to regulate the generation of the gas which is produced by the water attacking the carbid; but this tube may be rotated in the reverse direction for the valve 34 to be forced tightly upon the seat 36 of the nut, thereby closing the water-duct 33 and cutting olf the flow of water to arrest the generation of the gas.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that the lava tips employed. in acetylene-gas IOO IIO

burners are liable to be broken or damaged by objects striking the same, and to overcome this objection we arrange the burnertip 37 within the upper extremity of the tube 30, so as to be protected thereby. For the admission of air necessary to support combustion of the gas and to regulate the fiame issuing from the tip we provide the upper extremity of the tube 30 with the radial airports 38 and the air-slots 3S. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 5.) The burner-tip 37 is seated in and secured to the tube 30 on a plane below the ports and slots 38 38a, and this burner-tip is contracted, so as to present a tapered appearance, the upper extremity of which tip terminates practically flush with the upper edge of the tube 30, thereby disposing the burnertip almost entirely within the limits of the' tube 30 and protecting it from injury. The ports 3S are formed in the tube 30 at diametrically-opposite points, and in like manner the slots 33a are produced in the tube between the ports 3S; but the slots extend upwardly, so as to open through the upper edge of the tube 30. The described construction and arrangement of the slots provides for the admission of a relatively-large volume of air to the orifice of the burner-tip, and the air thus admitted not only supports combustion, but also controls the shape of the flame.

For the convenient adjustment of' the tube 30 in order to raise or lower the valve 34 we provide a handle 39 on the upper protruding end of' said tube and at a point below the burner. This handle may be of' the construction represented by Figs. l, 2, and 3, in which we have shown the handle as clamped around the tube; but the detailed construction of the handle is not important, as we may employ a collar adapted to be fitted to the tube and to receive a binding screw which impinges against the tube and furnishes a convenient means by which the tube may be turned on its axis for the adjustment of. the valve. This handle is adapted to traverse a graduated scale 39, which is provided on the upper face of the cap E33, (see Fig. 3,) and this scale is designed to indicate the adjustment which should be given to the tube in order to regulate the flow of Water from the chamber 2S to the carbid-chamber, thus providing a means by which the operator is able to gage the production of acetylene gas as may be required.

In our improved lamp we provide a cartridge of an exceedingly-cheap nature, so that it may be thrown away with the spent-carbid residue, or it may be emptied of the residue, cleansed, and dried previous to recharging the carbid-receptacle. This cartridge is designed to be fitted removably in the generator-chamber 27, which is provided by the lower pedestal-section 13, so that the entire cartridge may be removed without requiring the operator to handle a mass of pasty carbid, thus facilitating the operation of' cleansing the generator and enabling the same to be effected without soiling the hands of' the operator.` The cartridge consists of an absorbent filtering jacket or receptacle 4:0, which is adapted to be charged or filled with a proper supply of calcium carbid, and this fibrous jacket is adapted to be closed in any suitable way, so as to entirely contain or house the entire charge of carbid. It will therefore be understood that the fibrous jacket is closed at its upper and lower-ends, as well as .on'all sides thereof, for the purpose of confining the carbid therein, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, and this cartridge is adapted to be slipped or placed endwise in the generator-chamber 27, so as to rest upon the base 10 and assumean upright position within the generator drectly below the tube 30. The carbid-cartridge is housed or contained within the generator-chamber in a position for the water to drip from the duct 33 of the tube 30 directly upon the fibrous absorbent jacket of said carbid, and by inclosing the carbid within an absorbent jacket the water is prevented from having direct contact with the carbid as it escapes from the duct in the tube 30. The employment of a fibrous jacket is important for two reasons-first, the jacket is adapted to absorb the water and to become saturated with moisture due to the drip of the water from the duct directly upon the jacket, so that the carbid by its affinity for moisture will absorb the water from the saturated jacket, and thus insure a steady generation of the gas, which is conveyed by the tube 30 to the burner, thereby preventing fiuctuation of the light. A second important result secured by the use of the fibrous absorbent jacket which, with the carbid, constitutes the charge or cartridge resides in the fact that the gas is filtered or purified mechanically by escaping through the fibrous saturated jacket 40. It is well known that acetylene gas produced under ordinary conditions by dropping water on the carbid contains a fine powder which is suspended mcchanically in the gas, and when this gas is supplied tothe burner the tip of said burner is liable to become clogged by the deposit of the tine carbid powdei` in the gas passage or orifice, thus requiring frequent cleansing of' the burner-tip or renewal thereof'. This objection is overcome in our improved lamp by the employment of thc absorbent filteringjacket to entirely contain the charge of carbid, and it will be evident that the passage of the gas through the fibrous jacket tends to mechanically eliminate the fine particles of lime or residue which may be contained in suspension in the gas.

It is of course desirable to employ a cartridge which will nearly fill the generatorchamber in order to supply as much carbid a's possible to the lamp and minimize the necessity for frequent renewal of the carbid charge; but in this connection we desire to explain that the carbid when attacked by water will expand by reason of the disposition.

of the calcium, which is one of the component IOO parts of the charge. Hence it is found that under some conditions the expansion of the cartridge at the upper end will tend to obstruct the free passage of water to the lower part of the carbid. To overcome this objection, we employ a water-distribution tube 41, which is arranged in the generator-chamber 27 alongside of the cartridge 40, said tube 41 extending above the cartridge, as shown by Fig. 2. This tube is provided at points intermediate its length with the lateral ports 2, which provide for the egress of the water so as to attack the cartridge at different elevations, and the upper extremity of the tube t1 is open, as at 43, for the free ingress of water. It will therefore be understood that when the cartridge expands at its upper portion, so as to prevent the passage of the water to the lower part of the generator-chamber, the water is free to flow into the upper end 43 ot' the tube and thence pass through the lateral openings 42, so as to attack the carbid at points intermediate the length of the cartridge.

The operation may be described as follows: The diaphragm 15 is unscrewed from the lower pedestal-section 13, and a fibrous jacket charged with calcium carbid is placed in the chamber 28 of said pedestal-section 13. The

diaphragm is now screwed to the section 13 and the chamber 28 is supplied with the proper quantity of water, the tube 30 being adjusted to prevent the waterfrom escaping until it is desired to use the lamp. The gas may be generated by adjusting the handle 39 to rotate the tube 30 within the fixed nut in a direction to expose the duct 33 in said tube, and the water will pass through said duct to the cartridge, so that the water will drip upon the latter.4 The decomposition of water and carbid results in the formation of acetylene gas, which passes through the fibrous jacket, so as to be mechanically filtered, and the gas then passes through the tube 30, which conveys the gas to the burner. The rapidity of gas generation may be controlled by regulating the adjustment of the tube for the passage of water from the chamber 28 to the carbid which is contained within the fibrous jacket, and the handle 39 is exposed at all times, so as to be within convenient reach of the attendant. When the carbid becomes exhausted, the diaphragm 15 may be unscrewed from the pedestal-section 13 for the attendant to obtain access to the chamber 27, and the operator can remove the cartridge without soiling the hands. Another cartridge with a proper charge of carbid may be placed within the chamber 27 and the parts again assembled into operative relation for continued service. It will be observedv that the tube 30 passes loosely through the opening 25 in the cap and has a threaded engagement with the fixed nut, so that the tube will be supported and centered in proper position within the pedestal or column of the lamp,

and at the same time said tube may be edn'- veniently adjusted to regulate or cut off the flow of water. Any gas which may pass through the nut 29 or escape through the duct in the lower part of the tube is free to rise through the water contained in the chamber 28, and the gas as it emerges from the water can escape through the vent-opening 26, thus obviating the accumulation of gas in the chamber 28 above the water-level therein.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriticin g any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is 1. In an acetylene-gas lamp, the combination, with a support, of a section secured thereto at its lower end and having its upper end perforated and provided with a screwthreaded boss, a perforated diaphragm upon the upper end of the section and provided with a screw-threaded boss, an upper section secured to the diaphragm and provided with a perforated cap, a tube through said perforations, the lower end of which is screwthreaded and provided with means for forming a passage between said sections, and the upper end is provided with a burner.

2. In an acetylene-gas lamp, the combination of a sectional column or pedestal provided with. an intermediate diaphragm and with an internally-threaded boss forming a valveseat, a tube having a threaded and grooved lower portion screwed into said boss, a valve carried by said tube above the grooved portion thereof and adapted to said seat of the boss, and means for turning the tube, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas lamp, the combination of a sectional column or pedestal having its members separably coupled together and provided with an intermediate diaphragm forming a lower carbid-chamber and an upper water-chamber, an absorbent casing fitted removably in the carbid-chamber afforded by the lowei` pedestal-section, means for admitting water from said elevated chamber t the absorbent casing, and a perforated water-distributing tube arranged within the carbidchamber and in contact with one side of said absorbent casing, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gaslamp, the combination, with a water and a carbid receptacle, the top of the water-receptacle being provided with a graduated scale, a screw-threaded diaphragm between the receptacles, a tube, the lower end of which is grooved longitudinally and screw-threaded and passed through the diaphragm, and the upper end projects above the top of the water-receptacle and is provided with a burner, and the intermediate portion is provided with a valve adjacent to one end of said groove, and a handle upon the end of the tube adapted to register with the scale.

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5. In an acetylene-gas lamp, the combinar a passage between the cylinders, and the other tion, with two cylinders, one of which is proend is provided with a burner. vided with a perforated end and the other In testimony that we claim the foregoing as one is open at both ends, a base, a perforated our own we have hereto aixed our signatures 5 cap, and a perforated diaphragm for securing in the presence of two witnesses.

said cylinders together `and closing the ends PETER FRANCIS MGCAFFREY. thereof, a tube through the cap through the THOMAS A. DUNSHEE. diaphragm and the perforated end of the oyl- Witnesses:

inder, the lower end of said tube being pro INEZ D. BARRETT,

ro vided with means for forming and controlling JAMES EAGER. 

